For those of you who don’t know, Zach and Wade are at Fairview University Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN.

December 2, 2004

Zach is out of ICU and into a room, but he is still being closely monitored. The lab work and medications are still being worked out. His blood pressure is the lowest it has ever been and he is not receiving any medication for it. The kidney is working and making lots of urine. They are keeping him heavily medicated but he opens his eyes and looks at you. You keep expecting that famous big smile of his (that he always has) however, it’s not there today.

Wade is doing real well, he is up and walking around today. He got to go down and see Zach for the first time this morning. They are now on the same floor. His bodily functions are also coming around and he is passing the essencial gas that makes the staff cheer. Of coarse, we only cheer after surgery, not a month from now! He is still on a liquid diet, but is hoping that will change tomorrow.

Kiley did really well today, she got to spend a few hours with her family and hang up all her get well cards and pictures. They’ll properly cover the walls before Zach gets released!

Evening:

Zach has started running a temp and been having some tremors. They have suctioned him out a couple of times as he is quite congested, and did a chest x-ray to check for pneumonia. No results on that yet. His urine output is also down but that maybe a result of the high temp.

Keep the prayers coming, we have some recovery to do for quite awhile.

Thanks

Thanks for all the heart felt concern and care, but most of all thank you for all the prayers and prayer chains. They really worked.

Wednesday Dec 1, 2004

The surgeries started at 7:35. They removed Wade’s kidney and urether, which all went well and he was in recovery at 12:35, then into his room by 3:00. He was a bit groggy and had pains in his stomach. After of couple of shots of pain killers he slept.

Zachary also started at 7:35 as they wanted to get the dialysis catheter and central line inserted into his chest in case they would be needed. That took a little longer than planned as Zach is chubby, so Wade layed there for about 45 min waiting for them to catch up. We’re hoping he was groggy at this point! The kidney and urether were great, it took extra work to get the arteries attached as Wade’s are a bit larger than Zach’s. Dr. Najarian was pleased with the transplant and said it all went well and that he was even using the kidney already! He didn’t say if he got shot in the face or not! Zach was into recovery at 2:22, but Stacey wasn’t able to see him until 3:30. This was probably the hardest part of the day for her. They removed the breathing tube early evening and he was breathing on his own. He finally went to his room at 7:00.

Somehow, Stacey has survived all of this and seems to be doing well also. Kiley is busy with Grandpa and has made many get well cards for Zach and Daddy. She really misses her Mom and Dad and Zach. We plan to take her up to the hospital tomorrow to visit. She won’t be able to see Zach as he is in ICU for at least 2 days.

I will try to update this daily, please forgive the mispelled words or the layman’s terminology.

Grandma Elsenpeter

Zachary and Wade are out of surgery and everything went off without a hitch!

The doctors said it actually went better than expected. Wade’s kidney, now in Zachary, is already producing urine, so it is WORKING! Zachary’s surgery lasted 7 hours and Wade’s was considerably shorter. Father and son are doing well and Stacey is extremely relieved that it is over and her two favorite boys are in recovery.

More news as I hear it. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. They are being answered!

Zachary and Wade are presently in the hospital, hopefully out of surgery. I have not heard from Stacey yet, but will be sure to post any information I receive from her (or Judi or Pete or Gina) here on the site until she has some free time to write herself. I know your prayers are appreciated by the entire Elsenpeter family.

In the meantime, please feel free to sign Zach’s guestbook and leave your well-wishes and/or browse Zach’s photo gallery for some new Christmas photos of Zach with Kiley, Mommy and Daddy. What a gorgeous family! I pray the four of them are sitting by that tree on Christmas morning opening Santa gifts as a family.

Zachary is doing great ! Talking and Rolling all over the place. The only challange is him getting tangled in his feeding tubes. We finally met Zachary’s kidney surgeon Dr.Najarian. He is very well know all over the country. Although this will be the 47th infant kidney transplant under age one. They have successfully done over 900 under age 18. We are very excited ,ok a little scared ! Zachary has been sick all along he has no idea what its like to feel good. We’re confident he is going to just take off………..